In Leviticus 4.6 we saw the priest sprinkle the blood from a bull seven times for an Israelite or another priest when they sin unintentionally.

What if the whole congregation of Israel sinned?

When the congregation learned of their unintentional error, the assembly was to offer a bull, the elders were to lay their hands on the head of the bull, the priest would bring some of the bull’s blood, and,

“Then the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD, in front of the veil” (Leviticus 4.17).

Therefore, even as the sprinkling of blood seven times for an individual brought complete forgiveness, so it was for the congregation.

Blood had to be spilled, although we learn later in the Bible that the blood of bulls cannot take away sin (Hebrews 10.4), but all this had to take place that Israel and the rest of the world might see the necessity of the shedding of blood, for, “without shedding of blood there is no remission” (Hebrew 9.22).

This blood foreshadowed the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, whose blood at His crucifixion would flow in our direction, and it would flow back to cover those living under the first covenant (Hebrews 9.15).